Central Virginia

McLean House, site of the end of the Civil War

Virginia is a such a beautiful state and so rich with history;  Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War.  Central Virginia is particularily beautiful with rolling hills, vast  estates, historical sites and now vineyards.

This visit to Virginia, which is Leonard’s home state, had us arriving right by the Appomatox Courthouse, site of the end of the Civil War.

McLean parlor where Robert E Lee surrendered to Ulysses S Grant on April 9, 1865

It was not at all as I had envisioned.  I knew that this is where the Confederate army of the south surrendered to the Union army of the north,  but I was anticipating this to have occurred in a courthouse in the historic center of Appomattox.   Leonard also thought the event occurred in a courthouse.  Not true, the town itself was called Appomattox Courthouse, of which there are only a few remaining buildings and the surrender itself occurred in the parlor of the McLean family home.

McLean House with orginal stage line going from Richmond to Lynchburg.

The NPS has restored some of the buildings but for the most part it is surrounded by acres and acres of rolling, grassy hills where the final battles took place, giving it a haunting, desolate feel.

Shenandoah Crossings

We stayed in a great time-share resort campground called Shenandoah Crossings during our time here.   They couldn’t talk us into buying a time-share but the campground was great and very centrally located.

Monticello

In between visiting just a few of the Caton cousins, we took time to revisit Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.   It was a gorgeous spring day and the grounds and house were fabulous.  We had been here 25 years ago, but it seemed vastly different this time.  Maybe it was the weather and flowers.

The garden serves as a preservation seed bank of Jefferson era vegetables.

Jefferson grew 330 varieties of 99 species of vegetables.

Enjoying a beautiful day.